European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday called on Eritrea to make good on promises to withdraw its troops from Ethiopia's conflict-hit Tigray region. "Progress remains very limited in Tigray -- fighting is ongoing, humanitarian access is still being prevented, Eritrean troops are not withdrawing and human rights violations continue," Borrell said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers. "This so many times announced withdrawal of Eritrean troops should become a reality immediately," he added. Eritrea on Friday made its first explicit admission of its role in fighting in Tigray and pledged to pull out its forces amid mounting international pressure. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray in November to disarm and detain leaders of the region's once dominant political party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). For months the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments denied Eritreans were involved, contradicting testimony from residents, rights groups, aid workers, diplomats and even some Ethiopian civilian and military officials. Abiy finally acknowledged the Eritreans' presence in March while speaking to lawmakers, and vowed soon after that they would leave. The international community is pressing for Ethiopia to allow greater access for aid agencies to Tigray as the humanitarian situation has deteriorated. There are also calls for full investigations into accusations of widespread rights abuses including sexual violence being used as a weapon of war. The United Nations and United States have also demanded neighbouring Eritrea withdraw its forces from the region without delay. del/pvh